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Forgetting the travesty that was Bomberman Act Zero, there certainly hasn't been a lack of love lately for Hudson's bomb-obsessed icon, with the earlier released XBLA title Bomberman Live getting one expansion pack already, while another is planned for release later this month. Additionally, Hudson has also now confirmed a trio of new titles in the Bomberman Land series in development fot the Wii, DS, and PSP, with all three planned for release in January 2008.

Offering a collection of 50 mini-games, Bomberman Land seems right at home on the Wii, though with a catalog as saturated with similar experiences as Nintendo's latest console is, we're having a hard time mustering excitement for the prospect. Likewise, Bomberman Land for the PSP will feature 50 mini-games, while the DS variant – branded Bomberman Land Touch 2 – will include just 40 such games, with most designed to take advantage of the handheld's touchable screen.

Beyond these bite-sized diversions, quests, puzzles, and both single- and multiplayer antics are guaranteed, with each game featuring a multiplayer battle pack mode, complete with new maps, items, and in the case of the PSP and DS versions, UMD/single cart gameplay.

This morning, developer Hudson announced a second Bomberman Live expansion called the Bomb-up Pack 2 and is set for a September 26th release onto the XBLM.

Just like the first Bomberman expansion pack, Bomb-up 2 will cost a semi-cheap 250 Microsoft points and include ten new characters including Destructoid's mascot, Bomberella and El Bombito, as well as two new arenas (Medieval Times and Full Tilt) and a new gametype mode called Bomb Shelter in which players can hide in specific areas staying safe from explosions. The expansion pack will also add two new leaderboards into the mix for those who are all about proving their worth.

There's no doubt about it, Bomberman Live is a great Xbox Live experience and a fantastic multiplayer game and the Bomb-up Pack 2 expansion pack can only make the good times continue longer. We always welcome new DLC, but are always watching for the cost versus content proposition and this Bomberman expansion looks to be well worth it. Bomberman go!

Hudson has announced that new content for Bomberman Live will be (bomb) dropping this Wednesday, August 29 on Xbox Live. Bomb-Up Pack 1 will cost 350 250 Microsoft points (US $3.13). (Update: Hudson has issued a correction regarding the pack's price.)

New content includes ten costume sets, two levels (casino-themed "High Stakes" and tornado-laden "Zeppelin"), two new leaderboards from the Zeppelin map, and a Frag game mode, where victory dependant on the number of successful assassinations. We're still waiting for the "Zero" map, where players fight on and around stacks of unsold copies of Bomberman: Act Zero.



[Thanks, Alphonse]

Today, Hudson announced that a new expansion pack for XBLA game Bomberman Live will be releasing this Wednesday, August 29th. The new Bomb-Up Pack 1 will cost 350 250 Microsoft points and feature ten new characters including "Little Bomby Foo Foo" and "Rocky Bomboa", two new levels including "High Stakes" and "Zeppelin", one new game mode called "Frag" and a new leaderboard too. We're quite interested in the new characters to customize our own and the two new levels will definetly add a little more variety to our Bomberman experience. But we think the highlight here has to be the Frag game mode which makes our inner shooter smile with glee. Again, the Bomberman Live Bomb-Up Pack 1 will release this Wednesday, so now you'll just have to decide if 250 Microsoft points is worth the new content.

Update 1: We just got word from Hudson that the price for the Bomb-Up Pack 1 isn't going to be 350 points, instead it'll be available for 250 Microsoft points. Cheaper content FTW!

Thanks to Hudson, six winners will score Bomberman shirts. Four winners earn a double-shot of the shirt and the game. All you have to do is leave a single comment -- one only please -- in this post before 12:00AM EST tonight. (If you leave two comments, you'll earn our disqualification and scorn.)

That's all! Good luck.

[Update: The winners have been randomly selected and are being notified.]

How many years does it take to perfect a game? Bomberman has existed in some form since 1983. Is almost 25 years enough?

Apparently it isn't. I had high expectations for Hudson to create the perfect version for Xbox Live Arcade, especially after the company recognized the mess of Act Zero. The 800-point ($10) Bomberman Live was supposed to be the series-defining version: 4-player local games, 8-players online, HD graphics, all of the favorite old power-ups, and the classic gameplay. Sign me up, I thought.

To test this group-based game, I gathered six friends, two 360s, snacks, and plenty of beer. People complimented my chicken wings (thanks for the recipe, Mom), but few positive words were said about Bomberman. Where did this title go wrong?

A Hudson representative on Xbox.com has apparently confirmed that more costumes and maps are coming to XBLA's Bomberman Live. This shouldn't really be a surprise as images released by Hudson show levels and costumes not currently available in the game. No word on release date or price.

Our relationship with Bomberman Live has been a little love/hate. Although the game brings the multiplayer experience of Bomberman fantastically into your living room -- without the need of "real friends" -- there are some serious "what were they thinking" moments. At the top of that list is at the end of rounds having every player press A to continue, which ends up being a jerk magnet. It's like Catan and Carcassonne not having an auto-boot after a player times-out their turn three times in a row -- although those titles are still the most civilized on XBLA. Also, the lobby system in Bomberman and game selection is trés clunky and was definitely not designed for the Bomberman newb. We're definitely looking forward to the A button patch and some other fixes that are allegedly in the works for Bomberman Live.

[Thanks AnOffday, Via X3F]

While speaking with a Hudson representative on Xbox.com, regular X3F reader AnOffday confirmed that new costumes and maps are coming to Bomberman Live. This hardly comes as a surprise, as the promotional materials sent out by Hudson include several levels and costumes not currently in the game. You can actually see some of these levels in our Bomberman Live gallery (which we've thoughtfully attached to this post. Still, it's nice to get official confirmation. Now, if only we knew the release date and price, we could have our bomb and explode it too.

We're always keen to point our readers in the direction of free stuff, and today is no exception. Our friends at GamingTalkHQ are giving away a free copy of Bomberman Live to one lucky winner. So, what gargantuan, time-consuming task must you complete in order to enter this contest? Well, you'll have to deal with the laborious two step process of typing up a comment and clicking the "submit" button. There's always a catch isn't there? If you think you're up to this kind of hard work, we suggest you follow the "read" link for more details. The contest ends at 11:59 EST tonight, so act fast.

For longtime gamers, Bomberman is a staple. Bomberman is synonymous with having fun with your friends. For many gamers, the series introduced the kind of social multiplayer action that has become standard in many of today's games. For this reason, Bomberman Act: Zero was a major disappointment. Aside from the (arguably unnecessary) re-imagining of the classic characters, Act: Zero's glaring fault was the exclusion of local multiplayer. As Bomberman fans know, half the fun of the game is tied to interacting with your friends. Sure, Act: Zero had online play, but nothing compares to playing with buddies on the couch. Bomberman Live attempts to right all the wrongs of Act: Zero in one tiny, inexpensive package. Read on to find out how it fares.

Since Bomberman Live hit the Xbox Live Arcade last week, the kind hearted souls over at Xbox360Achievements.org felt the need to give away some Bomberman swag. Yes sir, they're giving away five lovely Bomberman Live tshirts and to enter, simply head on over to their website and comment by stating what your favorite Bomberman outfit is (punk Bomberman FTW!). But you'll have to hurry, because entries must be submitted by tomorrow when five winners will be randomly chosen to win an adorable tshirt. Good luck kids!

We hope you didn't forget about today's twofer XBLA offering where you have to chance to pick up both Bomberman Live and Yie Ar Kung Fu. You say you didn't forget, well that's just dandy great! But we're sure there are some fanboys out there (you know who you are) who did forget today's occasion, so we'll give everyone a quick rundown. You know, because we care and stuff.

Right now on the XBLA are two brand new Arcade games for you to enjoy. Bomberman Live is one of the little gems and will not only cost you 800 Microsoft points, but it just may make you want to take up blowing stuff up as a hobby. The second Arcade title is the graphically enhanced martial arts fun of Yie Ar Kung Fu, which will cost you 400 Microsoft points. Again, both are available right now, so at the very least we advise giving the trials a download. And who knows, you may find them to actually be good. Gasp!

Coming straight from E3 is confirmation of another Xbox Live Arcade double header next week with both Bomberman Live and Yie Ar Kung Fu releasing Wednesday, July 18th. Bomberman Live will feature (literally) tons of bombing excitement and fully customizable bombers for only 800 Microsoft points, while the mysteriously missing from Xbox.com Yie Ar Kung Fu will be available for a more modest 400 Microsoft points. And please fanboys, please pray to God that Hudson didn't muff up our classic Bomberman as we all can agree that Act Zero was a horrible attempt at entertainment.

I recently played Bomberman Live! at a Hudson media event, getting a sense for this title that goes back to the original Bomberman formula. This Xbox Live Arcade game is expected to launch later this month and will be available for 800 points ($10).

How is it? It's Bomberman. Will you like it? It's Bomberman. Do you like Bomberman? It's Bomberman.

Private confession is good for the soul. Public confession is good for image and marketing. Hudson, in the latest of their kooky videos, goofs around about the upcoming Bomberman Live (expected before the end of July) and just flat out admits Bomberman: Act Zero as an absolute mistake. Although low on details, the video is a fun little thing to watch, with a nice bit of political incorrectness that pokes fun at everybody -- and brings the Wii into the discussion while people fake playing Bomberman Live.

We'd be excited for Bomberman Land on the Wii if recent events hadn't reminded us how unfriendly the Wii is to online. Although Bomberman Land for the Wii and DS are expected later this year, Bomberman Live looks to be the way to go for the Bomberman faithful. And at an expected 800 MS point price ($10), that kinda beats anything that the Wii and DS versions will have at $29.99+ with limited online functionality. Keep it simple, keep it fun, keep it multiplayer friendly -- that should be the Bomberman mantra.